Perforator



Mllh 3, 1942- f w. FAAs 2,275,012

PERFORATOR Filed Jan. 30, 1940 /52v I@ i. 1 l.l r' 28 ggj gg L23. .f2 ru;- M25 1f mi! :27 1?/ "E v L--29 6 4 17 6 lNvENToR 1 'Wzl'eras BY A U 3 55m-2m@ 2f g' 3 g- -ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1942 PERFORATOR Walter Faas, South Orange, N. J., assignor to The Bates Manufacturing Company, West Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application .January Sii, 1946, Serial No. 316,349

iii Claims.

My invention relates to perforators and more particularly to hand operable perforators designed for perforating or punching holes in sheets to facilitate the binding of such sheets in files or binders by suitable securing means. In some aspects the present invention is an improvement on that disclosed in Patent No. 2,137,716 granted November 22, 1938, on my application Serial No. 139,475, filed April 28, 1937.

A perforator of the type disclosed in said patent comprises one or more perforating punches each in the form of a reciprocable plunger that has a cutting or punch end and is spring-biased to a raised or inoperative position and actuating means for depressing or moving said plunger or plungers from inoperative to operative position, such actuating means preferably including a hand-operable member or lever motn'lted` for pivotal or swinging movement in opposite directions and a similarly mounted cam for each plunger which is operatively associated, preferably through an anti-friction bearing, with the upper or other end of the plunger and which is` actuatable by said member upon movement of the latter in one direction thereby to depress or move the plunger to operative position.

For reasons explained in said Patent No. 2,137,716, there is preferably no positive connection between the pivoted actuating member cr levervand the punch or punches of a perforator of the type just described. Accordingly if in using such a perforator to form holes in a plurality of superimposed sheets of material, the same becomes jammed due to the sticking of a punch or punches thereof in depressed position, it is likely that the user will need to expend considerable time and effort in freeing or releasing said punch or punches so as to restore the perorator to its normal operative condition;

It is a principal object of my invention to provide an improved perforator of the character described wherein the objection just indicated is eifectively overcome.

Another object is to provide in such a perforator means adapted upon a simple manipulation, quickly and positively to effect the freeing of a punch or punches when the saine become stuck. y

Another object is to provide in such a perfon rator a construction whereby positive operation of the punch-freeing means is adapted to be effected merely by moving the actuating lever to its raised or inoperative position.

A further object is to incorporate in my irnproved perforator punch-freeing means which provides only an impositive connection between the actuating lever and the punch means.

A still further object is to provide in such a perforator for each punch thereof a freeing or releasing device which is adapted to be maintained in cooperative association with the actuating lever by said punch in the movement of the latter from inoperative to operative position.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

For a clearer understanding of my invention attention is directed to the drawing which accompanies `and forms part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of a preferred form of perforator in accordance with my invention, the actuating lever being shown in its normal raised position; Fig. 2 is a detailed fragmental part sectional and part elevational View, showing one of the punches and associated parts ofthe periorator illustrated in Fig. 1, with the actuating lever fully depressed; and

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view, partly broken away, of the perforator shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I designates a rectangular base which may be formed of a single piece of suitable sheet metal such as steel and which has vertical side and end flanges 2 and 3 to stiifen the same and provide a raised platform or support. A suitable tray or box (not shown) for receiving the small pieces of material cut from sheets in the operation of the perforator, is

adapted to be removably mounted within the base I. Adjacent its rear edge the base I is provided with a pair of similar spaced standards 4 preferably formed of heavy sheet metal. These standards `are U-shaped in vertical transverse cross-section, each of them comprising a base 5 and spaced parallel sides 6. A spacing bar I is disposed between the rear portions of the standard bases 5 and the platform of base I. The standards 4 and bar l are suitably secured, as by rivets 8, to the base I. Withy the construction described spaces 9 are provided between the forward portions of standards 4 and the platform of base l for the reception of sheets to be punched.

Front plates I0, preferably formed of sheet metal, are disposed against the lower portions of the vertical forward edges of the sides E of standards 4; said plates having at their upper ends right angular portions I I of` reducedwidth which extend rearwardly between the sides ofthe respaced relation.

The base 5 of each standard 4 and the angular end portion Il of the corresponding plate lll) are respectively provided with vertically aligned circular guide openings I 3 and lli in which is disposed for reciprocal sliding movement, a cylindrical punch l5. Each punch l5 has a pin I 6 extending therethrough and projecting laterally therefrom, and a coiled compressed spring i7 surrounds that portion of the punch between said pin and the base 5 of the corresponding standard 4. The springs Il bias the punches l5 to the raised positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3 wherein the pins I6 respectively engage the angular end v portions Il of plates l!) and the lower cutting ends of the punches are respectively disposed within the openings I3 in the bases of standards 4. For a purpose which will presently be explained, washers I8 in the form of small rectan-r gular plates are respectively disposed on the punches between the respective pins l5 and upper ends of springs I7, said washers fitting loosely between the legs of the respective ystandards 4.

The means for depressing plungers I5 to operative position comprises an actuating lever Il?, of

fairly heavy channeled sheet metal, provided at its inner end portion with divergent arms or branches 2d. The ends of arms 20 are respectively disposed between the upper end portions of,`

the sides 6 of standards 4 and are journaled on aligned horizontal pins 2l which Aare mounted in said sides. The lever i9 is thus mounted on standards d for swinging movement about a xed axis located above and somewhat rearwardly of punches l5. To impart downward movement to the punches upon the depression oflever vl 9, the perforator shown is provided with rtransmitting means comprising two cam elements 22 which are respectively loosely mounted on the pins 2l so as to be adapted to move about the common axis of said pins with the lever. The said cam elements may be formed of stiff heavy sheet metal, and

each of these elements comprises a main segmental portion 23 of uniform width and an end portion 2d of reduced width terminating in a hollow cylindrical section 25 which is disposed within the channel of one of the lever arms 20 and through which the corresponding pin 2| extends with a loose rit. The reduced portion 24 of each cam element extends outwardly justbeyond the sides of the end portion of the respective lever arm 20 where it joins the segmental portion 23 of said element, the width of the latter portion being substantially equal to the over-all width of the end portion of said arm 2li. The opposite sides of the end portion of each lever arm 2D have convex edge portions which are adapted to be engaged by and which conformto the inner concave surface of the segmental portion 23 of the corresponding cam element. The segmental portions 23 of the cam elements are respectively provided on their convex faces with central longitudinally-extending grooves 231, which are of These curved formation in cross-section.

grooves are engaged by two balls 27 which are respectively .freely supported for rotary movement on conforming seats provided in the upper ends of the punches l5.

To limit the upward movement of lever i9, the perforating device is provided with stop lugs 28 which are struck in from the sides 6 of standards ll and with which the rear edges or heels of the side walls of the lever arms 20 are respectively adapted to coact. It is apparent thatthe springs ll normally act through washers I8, pins I6, punches l5, balls 2 and cam elements 22, to bias the lever i9 to its uppermost raised position, as shown in Fig. l.

The perforator as thus far described, except for the inclusion of the washers lil and the omission of biasing springs acting on the cam elements for the purpose of maintaining them engaged with the balls 2l, is of substantially the same construction as the perforating device disclosed in the hereinbefore mentioned Patent No. 2,137,716. Also the normal operation of the above described perforator is the same as that of the device shown in said patent, being briefly as follows: With the punches l5, lever-i9 and associated parts in their normal positions, as shown in Fig. l, sheets to be perforated are placed on base l with one edge against the front edge of bar l. The lever l 9 is then depressed to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the punches are forced down through the sheets and the springs l? are compressed. The levervis then released and the springs ll return the said punches, lever and associated parts to their normal positions, and thereafter the perforated sheets are removed from the device.

In the perforating device herein shown and described there is no positive connection between the punches lll and the actuating lever, and. such device in the normal operation thereof, is smooth and easy in its action, requires but a comparatively small pressure on the actuating lever to effect the application of a great downward force to the perforating` punches, and has all the other advantages of the perforator disclosed in said Patent 2,137,716. However, as has hereinbefore been indicated, in a perforator of this type, one or both of the punches will sometimes become jammed and stick at or adjacent the lowermost position thereof despite the upward urge exerted thereon 'by the corresponding biasing spring or springs; this being most likely to occur when the perforator is used to produce holes in thick stacks of sheets. Heretofore when the punches of such perforators have so stuck, it has'usually been tedious, difficult and annoying to free the punches so as to eiect the return thereof to their normal raised or inoperative positions.

The principal feature of myvinvention resides in providing aperforator ofY this type with means whereby the punch or punchesthereof can be readily and effectively freed if kthe'samey jam or stick, preferably by simply raising the actuating lever. While this means may be embodied in various forms, the embodiment herein illustrated comprises two bell crank levers B which lare respectively loosely mounted for vertical swinging movement on horizontal vpivot pins 1.25!v respectively supported at'their ends yby the legs 6 of standards ii. The levers 'B ^are' maintained Vin medial positions relative to th'e'legs of the respective standards li by spacingsleeves 30 on vthe pins 29. One arm 3l of each -leverfB 'extends for- Wardly and has its end portion disposed just benea-th and in cooperative association with -the rearwardly extending portion of the washer or plate AI8 `carriedby the corresponding punch I5; and the other arm 32 of that lever extends upwardly and terminates in an inclined cam sursuch that when the perforator is in normal oper-- `ative condition, each of the levers B is adapted to havea slight pivotal movement or play with respect to the corresponding actuating lever arm A20 and washer I8; and the said lever B will therefore in nowise interfere with the functioning of `the corresponding biasing spring I'I in raising the-associated punch I from operative to inoperative position when such spring is capable of so functioning. But if either punch I5 sticks in a lowered position so that the associated spring I'I fails to return the same to its raised inoperative position, it is apparent that merely by then swinging mem'ber I9 upwardly, the latter will through the coaction of the heel of one arm 2li with the cam surface 33 of the corresponding bell crank lever B, positively move this lever in a counter-clockwise direction so as to cause its arm 3| Ato forcibly engage and raise the adjacent washer I8 and thereby eect the release of the punch and the return thereof to its fully raised n position. There is so little play provided for between the bell cranks B and the associated lever arms 2B and washers I8, that the cams 22 cannot be moved a suicient distance away from balls 2l to permit dislodgement of the latter 'from their seats in any position of the respective punches. Therefore the cams 22 may either be iixedly secured to the respectively associated lever arms Z or not, as desired.

I claim:

l. In a perforator including a support, a punch mounted on said support for movement to and from operative position and an actuating member mounted for movement in opposite directions, said member being free from positive connection with the punch and adapted upon movement in one direction to effect by a camming action movement of the punch to operative position; means associated with said punch and said member and directly engageable by the latter in the movement thereof in the other direction thereby positively to move the punch and ensure its retuin to inoperative position, said means being separate from and unsupported by said member.

2. In a perforator including a support, a punch mounted on said support for substantially vertical reciprocal movement, means biasing said punch to raised inoperative position, and a pivoted member operatively associated with but free from positive connection with said punch and adapted upon movement in one direction to effect by a camming action downward movement of the punch against the action of said biasing means; means associated with said punch and pivoted member and engageable by the latter in the movement thereof in the other direction thereby positively to raise the punch to inoperative position in the event of failure of said biasing means to then so raise the punch, said means being separate from and unsupported by said pivoted member.

3. In a perforator including a support, a punch mounted on said support for reciprocal movement and normally biased to inoperative position, an actuating .lever free from positive connection with the punch, means for moving said punch towards its operative position upon movement of said actuating lever in a given direction,

said means comprising a cam operable by said actuating lever and an element rotatably seated on one end of the punch and with which said cam is adapted to coact; means comprising a lever associated with but free from positive connection with said punch and actuating lever and operable by the latter upon movement thereof in another direction to ensure the return of the Apunch to inoperative position.

4. In a perforator including a support, a punch mounted on said support for movement to and from operative position and means comprising a pivoted member free from positive connection with the punch but adapted upon movement in one direction to effect by a camming action movement of the latter to operative position; means comprising a bell crank lever having its arms respectively operatively associated with said punch and member, said lever being engageable by said member in and substantially throughout the movement of the latter in the opposite direction thereby positively to move the punch and ensure its return to inoperative position.

5. In a perforator including a support, a punch member mounted on said support for movement to and from operative position, and means comprising an actuating member mounted for movement in opposite directions, said actuating member being free from positive connection with the punch member but being adapted upon movement in one direction to effect by a camming action movement of the punch member to operative position; means comprising a lever pivoted Vintermediate its ends and having its arms respectively operatively associated with said punch .and actuating members, said lever being free from positive connection with the actuating member but being engageable by such actuating member in and substantially throughout the movement thereof in the other direction thereby positively to move the punch member and ensure its return to inoperative position,

6. In a perforator including a support, a punch member mounted on said support for movement to and from operative position, and means comprising an actuating member mounted for movement in opposite directions, said actuating member being free from positive connection with the punch member but being adapted upon movement in one direction to effect by a camming action movement of the punch member to operative position; means comprising a bell crank lever having its arms respectively operatively associated with said punch and actuating members, said lever being free from positive connection with each of said members and being engageable by the actuating member in and subing the punch to inoperative position upon movement of the actuating lever in the opposite direction in the event said biasing means then fails to function, said means comprising a restoring lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one arm operatively associated with the punch and the other arm associated with the actuating lever, the said other arm having a cam surface with which the pivoted end of the actuating lever is adapted to coact.

8. In a perforator including a support, a punch mounted on said support for movement to and from operative position, means biasing said punch to inoperative position, and an actuating lever free from positive connection with the punch, said actuating lever being pivoted at one end and being adapted upon movement in one direction to effect movement of the punch to operative position; means for positively returning the punch to inoperative position upon movement of the actuating lever in the opposite direction in the event said biasing means then fails to function, said means comprising a restoring lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one arm with which the pivoted end of the actuating lever is adapted to coact, and a member movable with the punch and projecting laterally therefrom, said member being adapted to act on the other arm of the restoring lever in the movement of the punch to operative position to maintain the first-mentioned arm in coacting relationship to the pivoted end of the actuating lever.

9. In a perforator including a support, a punch mounted on said support for vertical movement to and from operative position, means biasing said punch to its raised inoperative position, and an actuating member pivotally mounted at one end for vertical swinging movement, said member being free from positive connection with the punch but being adapted upon downward swinging movement to eiect depression of the punch against the action of said biasing means to its lower operative position; means adapted upon upward swinging movement of said member positively to raise the punch to inoperative position in the event said biasing means then fails to function, said means comprising an element carried by the punch and projecting laterally therefrom and a bell crank lever pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis with one arm disposed below and adjacent said element and the other arm disposed adjacent the pivoted end of the actuating member in coacting camming relationship thereto.

10. In a perforator including a support, a pair of punches mounted on said support for vertical movement to and from operative position, means biasing each of said punches to raised inoperative position, an actuating lever having branches and pivotally connected at the ends of said branches with said support for vertical swinging movement about a fixed axis, said actuating lever being free from positive connection with each of said punches but being adapted upon downward swinging movement to effect depression of both punches against the action of said biasing means to their lower operative positions; means adapted upon upward swinging movement of the actuating lever positively to return either punch to its raised inoperative position in the event said biasing means then fails to effect such return of that punch, said means comprising two bell crank levers one of which has its arms respectively operatively associated with one of said punches and with one branch of the actuating lever and the other of which has its arms respectively operatively associated with the other of said punches and with the other branch of the actuating lever.

WALTER FAAS. 

